Foreign workers look at a tall plume of black smoke ascends following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, 2026.
Fadel Senna | Afp | Getty Images
Iran has defended its strikes against its Gulf neighbors, telling CNBC that U.S. military assets located in surrounding territories were "legitimate" targets in its fight back against America and Israel.
But Gulf states told CNBC that the attacks have created a "huge trust gap" that will last for years to come.
Iran's decision to attack its neighbors as part of its retaliation against U.S.-Israeli strikes has confused analysts and Tehran itself has sent mixed messages over its strategy, apologising for strikes against neighbors including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, before carrying out yet more strikes.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson in Tehran told CNBC on Monday that the Islamic Republic felt "no hostility" toward Gulf countries, but that U.S. military assets in the region were legitimate targets.
"We have said many times that we feel no hostility toward any country in the region, toward the UAE, Bahrain, you name it," said Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The only thing we are doing is defending ourselves against the aggressors. Did we start this war? Or this war was imposed on Iran for no reason?" he told CNBC's Dan Murphy.
Baghaei said Iran had aimed attacks "against military bases and assets" belonging to the U.S. in the region and said this was "legitimate under international law" as Tehran was "defending" itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
"All military bases, installations and assets that in any form or manner are being used to help the aggressors are regarded as legitimate targets ... We had warned often that if they start war against Iran, that war would not be limited only to Iran. That was not a threat. That was because of the realities in our region. The military bases of the United States are scattered around us," Baghaei said.
Despite Iran's insistence that it has only targeted military assets in the surrounding region, its attacks have targeted critical energy infrastructure, particularly oil facilities, as well as military bases, in neighboring countries.
Iranian drones and debris from strikes have also hit civilian infrastructure across the Gulf, including airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as hotels and residential buildings. Intercepted drones and missiles have also caused injury to civilians and soldiers, and several fatalities.
A view of damage after an Iranian drone struck several buildings in Manama, Bahrain on March 1, 2026.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
Analysts say this strategy has aimed to create maximum discomfort for Iran's immediate neighbors, as well as showing that Tehran can shake the global economy and disrupt oil markets.
It has also been seen as an attempt to make the affected Gulf states — anxious to protect their diversifying economies — exert pressure on the U.S. and Israel to end their aerial bombardment of Iran.
Iran's neighbors are not impressed with Iran's actions, to say the least, warning that diplomatic relations could be impacted for years.
A senior UAE official, who is not customarily identified by name, told journalists on Friday at an official briefing, "I am not saying, relations between Gulf states and Iran are not going to go back, because at the end of the day, you are neighbours but it creates a huge trust gap that, in my opinion, will last for decades to come."
CNBC has asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain to comment on what impact Iranian attacks are having on their relationships with Tehran and is awaiting responses.
Qatar pointed CNBC to the latest statement from the country's prime minister and foreign minister on Tuesday in which they said they, "strongly condemned Iranian attacks on the State of Qatar and other Gulf countries," adding that the justifications provided by Tehran are "totally rejected."
Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising from a reported Iranian strike in the industrial district of Doha on March 1, 2026.
Mahmud Hams | Afp | Getty Images
The Gulf Co-operation Council, a political and economic union of six Gulf states, has issued statements condemning Iran's "treacherous" and "heinous" attacks, saying they will take "all necessary measures" to defend their security and territory.
Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have threatened to retaliate against Iran, but they have stopped short of potentially escalatory action, for now.
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Iran has both recognized the damage being done to its already-tense relations with neighboring states, while continuing on the same path.
Last weekend, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for the attacks, stating: "We do not intend to invade other countries. Let us set aside all the disagreements, concerns, and resentments we have toward each other. Today, let us defend our own soil to bring Iran out of this crisis with dignity." Shortly after, however, Iran fired rockets toward a U.S. air base in the UAE.
Pezeshkian's apology also prompted a backlash from hardliners in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and clerical elite, with hardline cleric and lawmaker Hamid Rasai berating the president on social media, saying: "Your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable."
Vantor satellite image shows the damaged sections and burnt areas of the Ras Tanura oil refinery following an incident.
Maxar | 2026 Vantor | Getty Images
Iranian spokesperson Bagheaei reiterated Pezeshkian's apology to CNBC but said neighboring countries were being used by the U.S.
"We are very, very sorry that in the holy month of Ramadan, the territories of some regional states, some countries of the region, are being abused by the United States to attack other Muslim countries."
Michael Herzog, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., told CNBC Tuesday that people in the Gulf he has spoken to "are really upset with what the Iranians have been doing."
"Iran targeted the Gulf states, their infrastructure and not only American bases but also energy infrastructure and civilian targets, in a bid to get them to pressure the Trump administration to stop the war earlier," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."
"I don't think it worked well for Iran because it isolated itself in the Gulf and got all of them to come out against Iran," he said, adding: "Iran also wanted to show that this is going to be a regional war, but I think they miscalculated."
